Sparking paper rupture gun



Dec. 24, 1940. A, N. SMiTH 2,226,144

SPARKTNG PAPER RUPTURE GUN Filed Sept. 14, 1937 INVENTOR D Anihom Nfiml th BY mv j w 152 I52 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPARKING PAPER RUPTURE GUN Application September 14, 1937, Serial No. 163,752

Claims.

This invention relates to toy weapons, more particularly toy guns of the paper rupture type, and more especially such a gun arranged with sparking mechanism.

.5 The primary object of the present invention is to generally improve toy guns of the paper rupture type and more especially, to improve the toy pistol disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 108,161, filed October 10 29, 1936, and entitled Paper rupture pistol.

One object of the present invention is to combine sparking mechanism with said gun, said sparking mechanism being so simplified and so added to the gun that the gun may be manufacl5 tured in either of two forms, with or without the sparking mechanism, all without necessitating change of the gun mechanism.

Other objects center about the paper feed mechanism, and are to so arrange the paper feed dog that it functions only after pulling the trigger through its complete stroke. This obviates wastage of paper due to progressive small increments in feed should the trigger be toyed with or repeatedly pulled for a small distance without actually firing the gun. Another object is to prevent backward movement or buckling of the paper even when using thin cheap paper.

Still another object is to increase the percussive sound or report produced by the gun, and to this end, a sound amplifying cup or horn is mounted at the muzzle of the gun. In accordance with features and objects of the present invention, the cup is detachably mounted so that the gun may be packed in a box no longer than would be required without the cup.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the toy gun elements and their relation one to the other, as are hereinafter more particularly described in the specification and sought to be defined in the claims. The specification is accompanied by a drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a section taken in elevation through a gun embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the muzzle portion of the gun;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken in the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the paper clamping ring showing the eccentric mounting for the sound amplifying cup;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the cup; and Fig. 6 is a detail of the flint holder.

Referring to the drawing, the paper rupture toy simulates a pistol adapted for rapid firing. The pistol comprises a cylinder l2 mounted near the muzzle of the gun, and a piston l4 reciprocable in said cylinder. The piston is secured at 5 the forward end of a piston rod l6 around which is coiled a main compression spring I8. The forward end of spring 18 bears against piston I4, and the rear end of spring [8 bears against the forward wall 20 of a frame 22 mounted within 19 pistol body 44, thus normally urging the piston forward.

A strip of paper P is fed past the muzzle of the gun from a paper roll R by appropriate paper feed means F. The paper is clamped against the 15 muzzle of the gun by a clamping ring C. The piston is then released without, however, releasing the clamp C, and the resulting compression of air within the cylinder bursts the paper film at the muzzle of the gun, with a loud report. At the 20 same time a shower of sparks is produced by sparking mechanism S. The clamp C is then released, and a new section of paper is fed to the muzzle of the gun. The various movements above outlined are obtained by a simple pull on 25 trigger T which, during the first part of its movement, draws the piston rearwardly to tension the main spring 18, and also draws the clamp ring C rearwardly to seal the paper at the muzzle of the gun. At the end of the trigger 30 movement the piston is abruptly released without, however, releasing the clamp C, thus firing the gun. During the forward or return movement of the trigger, the clamp C is released and the paper is fed forwardly from the paper roll. 3

Considering the mechanism in greater detail, the trigger T is oscillatably mounted at its upper end on a pin 25 extending transversely through the frame 22. In the particular arrangement here illustrated, the pin 26 is located at the same elevation as the piston rod !6, and the latter is therefore slotted at 30 to afford free reciprocation of the rod with respect to pin 26.

Trigger T is made of a single piece of sheet metal which is reversely bent to have a U shape 45 in section. The trigger is thus formed with side walls 32 and a forward wall 34. The side walls 32 are projected upwardly to receive the pivot pin 26, but the forward wall 34 is terminated well below the piston rod 16, thus enabling the piston 50 rod to pass between the side walls 32.

Trigger 32 carries a cam element 35, and piston rod [6 is provided with a cooperating cam foilowe'r 38. The cam follower 38 preferably passes through and projects on opposite sides of 55 the'piston rod I6. Cam element 36 is preferably formed of a single piece of sheet metal bent upwardly to form side walls 40 adapted to straddle the piston rod I 6, and a bottom wall 42 which interconnects the side walls 40. The entire element is pivotally mounted on trigger T by means of a pin 44. The element 36 is normally urged in a clockwise direction by means of a wire spring 46 the upper end 48 of which bears against the top of the pistol body, and the lower end 50 of which passes through a hole in bottom wall 42. The resulting oscillation of cam element 36 is limited by motion-limiting stop lugs 52 struck inwardly from the side walls 32 of the trigger.

As trigger T is drawn rearwardly, the cam element 36 moves upwardly and rides in front of the cam follower 33. The shape of the rear edge of cam element 36 is such that as the trigger is moved, the cam element forces the cam follower and with it the piston rod rearwardly. The rear end of the piston rod passes through the rear wall 54 of the frame 22 and through the rear end or breech of the pistol body. The frame 22 is provided with a bearing pin 56 carrying an anti-friction roller 58 beneath which the piston rod I6 rides.

In order to release the piston rod at the end of the trigger stroke, the cam element 36 is provided with an escape passage through which the cam follower 38 readily passes. Specifically, the side walls 40 of the cam are displaced outwardly to form channel-shaped passages 60 which together form the escape passage. Near the end of the trigger stroke the escape passage approaches the cam follower 30; and at the end of the trigger movement the escape passage is brought into direct alignment with cam follower 38, thus permitting the latter to shoot forwardly through the cam element 36.

On releasing the trigger, the spring 46 previously mentioned functions to restore the trigger to the forward position shown in Fig, l During this return movement of the trigger the cam element 36 oscillates counter-clockwise away from the motion-limiting stops 52, this movement being caused by engagement of the forward edge of the cam element with the cam follower 38. When, however, the trigger reaches its foremost position, the end of the cam element 36 passes below cam follower 38, and the cam element is oscillated in a clockwise direction against motionlimiting stops 52 and assumes the initial position shown in Fig. 1. At this time the relation of the parts is such that on pulling the trigger rearwardly, the cam element again comes in front of the cam follower and again functions to move the piston I4 rearwardly against the compression spring I8.

The clamping ring C is preferably struck from heavy-gauge sheet metal and provided with a pair of long diametrically extending arms 62 which are bent rearwardly to form guide links for guiding and moving the ring. Guide links 62 pass outside of cylinder I2 but preferably inside of the pistol body. The links are thus wholly concealed except for that portion which extends beyond the muzzle of the gun. The ends of the links are connected by a pin 68 which extends through and is movable in slots cut through side walls of frame 22. Pin 68 also extends through a slot I2 cut through piston rod I6. Slot I2 is so located that piston rod I6 cannot move rearwardly without drawing the links 62 rearwardly with it, but the piston rod may move forwardly without the links. The links are normally urged forwardly by a spring I4 the U-shaped center portion I6 of which is anchored in the bottom of frame 22, and the forward ends I8 of which are anchored in appropriate lugs 80 bent inwardly from links 62.

To hold the links in retracted position in order to clamp and seal the paper membrane at the muzzle of the gun while the piston is impelled forwardly, I provide suitable stop means moved by and preferably mounted on the trigger T. The stop means is indicated at 82 and may be formed directly on the trigger, but in the present instance has been formed on the cam element 38. The side walls of the cam element are projected upwardly to form a pair of stops 82 so disposed as to straddle the piston rod I6 when the trigger is moved to rearward position. Near the end of the trigger movement the stops 82 begin to move in front of the pin 68 which extends from one link to the other. When the trigger is moved to rearmost position, releasing the piston rod for forward movement, the stops 82 are disposed directly in front of pin 68, thus holding the clamping ring C tightly against the muzzle of the gun. The rear edges of stops 82 may be given a slight curvature in order to obtain a camming pressure against pin 68, which insures air-tight sealing of the paper membrane.

Of course, on releasing the trigger the stops 82 move downwardly from in front of pin 68, and the links 62 and with them the clamping ring C are moved forwardly by spring I4.

The paper roll R is received in an appropriate chamber 90 having a door on one side, not shown. The end of the roll is led from the chamber to a guide track 92 leading to clamping ring C, the upper end of the guide track and clamping ring being secured together by bent tongues 94. The guide track is flanged at 96, and these flanges are enlarged at 98 to form bearings for a pin I00 carrying a feed dog I02. This dog is a feed dog in the sense that during return movement of the trigger and forward movement of the dog, a new length of paper is unwound from the roll R. The presentation of a new paper surface to the rubber sealing ring I04 at the muzzle of the gun takes place during rearward movement of the trigger, for as the clamping ring and apron move rearwardly, the paper is held against rearward movement, and therefore the end of the paper apparently moves upwardly. The feed dog I 02 is therefore a feed dog with respect to the paper roll rather than with respect to the muzzle of the gun.

During cooking of the gun, the paper is supported against rearward movement by upper and lower support members I06 and I08, respectively. These members are secured to the gun body at their rear ends by means of an eyelet H0. The upper member I 06 passes over the paper feed roll and is then bent downwardly into yieldable engagement with the paper overlying the track 92. The lower strip I08 is bent sharply downwardly around the paper roll and then extends forwardly beneath the paper, but overlies the track 92. The travel of the feed dog I02 takes plgce just ahead of these guide strips I 06 and These strips serve functions additional to their holding action on the paper strip. The feed dog I02 is provided with a resilient rearwardly extending arm or follower I I 2. The upper strip I06 is bent upwardly to form a camming surface II4 which cooperates with the follower H2. The follower and camming surface are normally out of contact, and the dog rests very loosely on the paper. It has no tendency to move the paper rearwardly during rearward movement of the dog, and it does not of itself bite into the paper during forward movement of the dog. Consequently, if the trigger is toyed with, that is, if it is pulled only partially rearwardly any number of times, there is no feed and consequent waste of paper from the roll. When the trigger is pulled the full distance rearwardly, the follower I I2 bears against the camming surface H4, thus elevating the follower and causing the teeth of the dog to forcibly bite into the paper strip. Upon release of the trigger, the forward. movement of the dog causes a new section of paper to be unwound from the-roll.

I may mention that difliculty arises if it is attempted to use an ordinary pointed feed dog constantly urged into engagement with the paper by a spring, for the paper feeds sideways if both points are not exactly the same length and exactly the same in sharpness. In many cases it is necessary to file one point or the other by hand in order to obtain a straight feed. Moreover, burrs on the bottom of the metal dog may be sharp enough to catch the paper, and these in turn would cause a biased feed. The present improvement obviates all these difficulties because the dog is entirely loose until near the end of its rearward movement, and at that time it is positively forced downwardly into engagement with the paper, so that both points penetrate the paper and enter the cooperating grooves SI of the guide track 92.

The lower strip IE8 not only acts to prevent return movement of the paper, but also serves the additional function of filling the Variable gap between the paper roll and the track 92. The reason the strip IE8 is bent entirely around the roll of paper is to obviate difficulty arising from the tendency of the roll to pull bodily out of the feed magazine or chamber 50. roll to move into the chamber outlet and to there jam in place would be followed by tearing of the paper at the teeth of the feed dog, and this would interrupt the feed action. With the present arrangement, I provide a smooth surface for the roll to turn on, as well as a smooth surface between the strips through which the paper is fed. The paper has a smooth and unobstructed path when traveling forward, yet the members I06 and I08 operate effectually to prevent backward movement of the paper. Friction of the feed dog during back stroke is eliminated, and the teeth enter the paper only as the feed mechanism starts its forward movement.

The sound produced by pneumatic rupture of the paper is amplified by a sound amplifying cup or horn IIB. This horn is detachably attached to the clamping ring C, and is used at the option of the owner. The detachable mounting of the cup is convenient when packing the gun in its carton or box, for the box may be made the same size as though the cup were not used, the cup being left free alongside the gun in the box.

The preferred form of mounting may be described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5. The rear end of the cup is provided with guide lugs I I8 and hooks I20. The air discharge opening I22 of ring 0 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed recesses I24 dimensioned to receive the hooks I 20. It will be evident that by inserting the hooks I20 through recesses I24, and then turning the cup, the hooks will be anchored on the ring.

The upper and lower arcs I26 and I28 of dis- This tendency of the charge openings I22 are preferably eccentrically related or sidewardly displaced with respect to one another, as shown in Fig. 4. The relation of the parts is such that the cup is readily turned clockwise, but can not be turned counterclockwise, the latter direction of rotation being prevented by the abutments formed at I30. Moreover, when the cup is turned clockwise, it is gradually tightened or jammed into locked position due to the decreasing diametrical distance between the arcs I26 and I28. The cup can not be turned. a full half revolution to again be released.

The sparking mechanism S is mounted at the muzzle of the gun, thus generating the sparks at the most desirable point. This is accomplished despite the location of the cylinder at the muzzle of the gun, by placing the spark-producing mechanism collaterally adjacent the cylinder. The body of the gun is dropped downwardly or recessed at the muzzle to fit closely about the cylinder, and the resulting recess is utilized to receive the sparking mechanism, as will be evident from inspection of Fig. 1.

The sparking mechanism comprises an abrasive or file-like strip I32 the teeth of which face forwardly. A pyrophoric element I34, which, for the sake of brevity, I shall term a flint, is mounted on the small end of a T-shaped flint holder I33, the latter being yieldably urged downwardly by a leaf spring I38, the forward end of which is fixedly mounted in place by a small rivet or eyelet I40.

The sparking mechanism is housed within a casing I42 which is detachably mounted on the gun body. The housing consists of a generally inverted U-shaped element including a top wall I44 and side walls I46. The latter are apertured or windowed at I 48 to better expose the sparks generated by the mechanism. The side walls I46 are then stepped outwardly, as is best shown in Fig. 3, to fit around the gun body, and the parts are thereby interlocked and secured together without special fastening means such as eyelets or the like. The ledges I47 and I49 may be compressed toward one another during manufacture, if it is desired to lock the housing more tightly on the gun.

The removable relation of the housing at the top of the gun is desirable, among other things, to provide full access to the abrasive element I32 for cleaning of the same. If these pistols lie around for a long time, there is a tendency for the abrasive element to become covered with oil, and this prevents the production of sparks. By snapping off the top housing, the abrasive element may be wiped dry or cleaned with gasoline, and it is then again ready to produce a good shower of sparks.

The flint holder is readily removable for replacement. The sides M6 at the forward end of the housing are notched inwardly and downwardly to form slots I50. These slots receive the outwardly projecting arms I52 of the flint holder. The leaf spring I38 bears downwardly on the flint holder, and thus fimctions to hold the arms I52 in slots I53. In this Way the flint is held against forward movement during forward movment of the abrasive element I32. When it is desired to replace the flint, it is merely necessary to seize the projecting tips I52 and to lift the same upwardly and then forwardly out of the housing.

In replacing the new flint, it is merely necessary to insert the same partly in position, for it will enter the housing the rest of the way automatically upon pulling of the trigger.

"The abrasive element I32 is actuated by connecting the same to the piston. In the present case, this is done by means of a link or connection I54, the rear end of which is welded to the abrasive element at I55, and the middle portion of which passes through the open rear end of the cylinder. outside of the compression spring I8. The forward end of connection I54 is then bent downwardly at I55, where it is received between the compression spring I8 and the piston I4. The compression spring holds the forward end of the connection securely against the piston.

It will be understood that during rearward movement of the trigger or cocking of the spring, the abrasive strip I32 is moved rearwardly beneath the flint, but that no sparks are generated because of the slope of the teeth on the abrasive element, and because the movement is slow. At the end of the trigger stroke, the escape passage 60 reaches cam follower 38, permitting the latter to shoot forward with the piston rod and piston, under the influence of compression spring I 8'. At this time the abrasive element I32 is moved sharply forward with the piston, thus generating a copious shower of sparks at the muzzle of the gun at the same instant that the paper bursts with an explosive sound.

It is believed that the construction and operation, as well as the advantages, of my improved sparking paper rupture gun will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description thereof. It will also be apparent that while I have shown and described the invention in a preferred form, many changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A sparking paper rupture gun comprising a cylinder, a piston movable therein, paper sealing mechanism at one end of the cylinder, a piston rod projecting from the other end of the cylinder, a compression spring surrounding said piston rod, a longitudinally reciprocable abrasive strip, a pyrophoric element resiliently contacting said strip, and means connecting said strip to the piston, said means comprising a connecting link extending from the piston through the open end of the cylinder outside of the piston rod and compression spring.

2. A sparking paper rupture gun comprising a cylinder, a piston movable therein, paper sealing mechanism at one end of the cylinder, a piston rod projecting from the other end of the cylinder, a compression spring surrounding said piston rod, a longitudinally reciprocable abrasive strip, a pyrophoric element resiliently contacting said strip, and means for moving said strip together with the piston, said means comprising a connecting link extending from the piston through the open end of the cylinder outside of the piston rod and compression spring, one end of said strip being disposed between the compression spring and the piston.

3. A sparking paper rupture gun adapted to be assembled and usable with or without the sparking mechanism thereof, said gun comprising a gun body having a cylinder mounted in the muzzle portion thereof, a piston reciprocable therein, a piston rod and compression spring extendin rearwardly through the cylinder, and sparking mechanism including an inverted generally U-shaped housing detachably applicable to the outside of the gun body at the muzzle thereof, an abrasive element longitudinally reciprocable within said housing, a flint yieldably contacting said abrasive element within the housing, and a connection between the abrasive element and the piston.

4. A parking paper rupture gun adapted to be assembled with or without the sparking mechanism thereof, said gun comprising a gun body having a cylinder mounted in the muzzle portion thereof, a piston reciprocable therein, a piston rod and compression spring extending rearwardly through the cylinder, and sparking mechanism including an inverted generally U-shaped housing detachably applicable to the outside of the gun body at the muzzle thereof, an abrasive element longitudinally reciprocable within said housing, a flint yieldably contacting said abrasive element within the housing, windows in said housing to expose the sparks, and a connection between the abrasive element and the piston, said connection extending through the open rear end of the cylinder, the forward end of said connection being disposed between the compression spring and the piston.

5. A gun adapted to be assembled with or without sparking mechanism, said gun comprising a gun body having a noise making mechanism, and sparking mechanism including an inverted generally U-shaped housing detachably applicable to the outside of the gun body at the muzzle thereof, an abrasive element longitudinally reciprocable within said housing, a flint and flint holder yieldably contacting said abrasive element within the housing, and a connection between the abrasive element and the noise making mechanism, said flint holder being T-shaped with the flint mounted on the small end thereof, said housing being slotted on each side to receive the projecting arms of the T-shaped element, said arms projecting beyond the sides of the housing to facilitate insertion of or removal of the flint holder from the housing.

6. A sparking paper rupture gun adapted to be assembled with or without the sparking mechanism thereof, said gun comprising a gun body having a cylinder mounted in the muzzle portion thereof, a piston reciprocable therein, a piston rod and compression spring extending rearwardly through the cylinder, and sparking mechanism including an inverted generally U-shaped housing detachablyapplicable to the outside of the gun body at the muzzle thereof, an abrasive element longitudinally reciprocable within said housing, a flint and flint holder yieldably contacting said abrasive element within the housing, and a connection between the abrasive element and the piston, said flint holder being T- shaped and said flint being mounted on the small end thereof, said housing being slotted on each side to receive the projecting arms of the holder, said arms projecting beyond the sides of the housing to facilitate insertion or removal of the flint holder from the housing.

7. A paper rupture gun comprising a cylinder, a piston movable therein, a trigger and spring for actuating the piston, a paper roll support for a roll of paper, which is to be burst by the gun, a clamping ring for supporting a portion of the paper which is to be burst, a paper feed dog, and. means to cause said feed 'dog to bite into the paper solely near one end of the trigger stroke, the dog being free during the preceding part of the trigger stroke.

8. A paper rupture gun comprising a cylinder, a piston movable therein, a trigger and spring for actuating the piston, a paper roll support for a roll of paper which is to be burst by the gun, a clamping ring for supporting a portion of the paper which is to be burst, a paper feed dog, and means to cause said feed dog to bite into the paper solely near one end of the trigger stroke, said means comprising a resilient cam follower on the dog and a camming strip so disposed as to press against said cam follower and move the dog against the paper near the end of the trigger stroke, said cam follower and cam strip being out of contact, and the dog therefore being free during the preceding part of the trigger stroke.

9. A paper rupture gun comprising a cylinder, a piston movable therein, a trigger and spring for actuating the piston, a paper roll support for a roll of paper which is to be burst by the gun, a clamping ring for supporting a portion of the paper which is to be burst, means to feed paper from the paper roll between the cylinder and clamping ring, said means comprising resilient strip-s above and below the strip of paper leaving the roll, said strips bearing against one another to inhibit return movement and buckling of the paper strip, and a reciprocable paper feed dog, said dog functioning just ahead of said strips.

10. A paper rupture gun comprising a cylinder, a piston movable therein, a trigger and spring for actuating the piston, a paper roll support for a roll of paper which is to be burst by the .gun, a clamping ring for supporting a portion of the paper which is to be burst, means to feed paper from the paper roll between the cylinder and clamping ring, said means comprising resilient strips above and below the strip of paper leaving the roll, said strips bearing against one another to inhibit return movement and buckling of the paper strip, and a reciprocable paper feed dog, and means to cause said dog to bite into the paper solely near the end of the trigger stroke.

11. A paper rupture gun comprising a cylinder, a piston movable therein, a trigger and spring for actuating the piston, a paper roll support for a roll of paper which is to be burst by the gun, a clamping ring for supporting a portion of the paper which is to be burst, means to feed paper from the paper roll between the cylinder and clamping ring, said means comprising resilient strips above and below the strip of paper leaving the roll, said strips bearing against one another to inhibit return movement and buckling of the paper strip, a reciproca'ble paper feed dog, and means to cause said dog to bite into the paper solely at the end of the trigger stroke, said means including a resilient cam follower on said dog, and a camming surface formed by appropriately bending a part of one of the aforesaid resilient strips, the cam follower and cam surface being so related that they are out of contact during the first part of the trigger stroke, but come into contact at the end of the trigger stroke.

12. A paper rupture gun comprising a gun body, a cylinder disposed at the muzzle of the gun body, a clamping ring reciprocable outside the muzzle of the gun, and a noise amplifying cup detachably secured to the clamping ring, said cup having a pair of diametrically disposed hooks, and the air discharge opening in said clamping ring having a pair of diametrically disposed recesses adapted to receive said hooks, the arcs of the air discharge opening between the recesses being eccentrically related or relatively displaced to prevent turning of the cup in one direction and to facilitate turning in the other direction and to jam the parts into tightly fitting relation upon turning of the cup in the latter direction.

13. A sparking paper rupture gun comprising a gun body, an air compression cylinder longitudinally disposed in the muzzle of the gun, paper feeding and sealing mechanism outside the muzzle of the gun, a piston in said cylinder, sparking mechanism disposed at the muzzle of the gun collaterally adjacent the cylinder, and a trigger and associated mechanism for operating the piston, paper sealing mechanism, and sparking mecha- 14. A sparking paper rupture gun comprising a gun body, an air compression cylinder disposed at the muzzle of the gun, paper feeding and sealing mechanism outside the muzzle of the gun, a piston in said cylinder, sparking mechanism disposed at the muzzle of the gun outside of the cylinder, the gun body being recessed at the muzzle to receive the sparking mechanism, and a trigger and associated mechanism for operating the piston, paper sealing mechanism, and sparking mechanism.

15. A sparking paper rupture gun comprising a gun body having a barrel, a cylinder disposed longitudinally of the gun near the muzzle end of the barrel, a piston movable therein, paper sealing mechanism at the forward end of the cylinder, a piston rod projecting from the rear end of the cylinder, a compression spring surrounding said piston rod. for urging the piston toward the paper sealing mechanism, a longitudinally reciprocableabrasive strip located at the muzzle end of the barrel, said strip being reciprocable in the same direction as the piston rod and the barrel of the gun, a pyrophoric element mounted at the muzzle end of the barrel and yieldably contacting said strip, and means connecting said piston rod and said strip for moving said strip simultaneously with the piston.

ANTHONY N. SMITH. 

